Pre-championship game preview: Kentucky

Only hours before the national championship starts here at AT&T Stadium.

UConn and Kentucky, two college basketball heavyweights, will square off at 9:10 p.m.

The Huskies will attempt to win the program’s fourth national title tonight. They already have more championships victories (three) since 1999 than any other program. Duke has two (2001, 2010) as does North Carolina (2005, 2009) and Florida (2006, 2007).

A year removed from watching the tournament from home due to a post-season ban, UConn is

"I just feel like all the trials and tribulations that we have been through throughout last season and this season just has prepared us for this moment," sophomore Phil Nolan said.

-- UConn is undefeated in its three previous title game trips, winning in 1999, 2004 and 2011. Two victories came in Texas (San Antonio, Houston).

Kentucky is making 12th appearance, last winning in 2012.

-- The Wildcats are undefeated in the NCAA post-season since losing to UConn in 2011 national semifinals. They own an 11-game tournament winning streak.

The Huskies are 11-1 in last 12 NCAA games.

-- Series: UConn leads, 3-1, winning last two.

-- Player to watch: Randle, one of the top freshmen in country. Nolan may need some help to defend the powerful 250-pound forward. Randle needs four rebounds to set a Kentucky freshman record and pass Anthony Davis (415).

"He's a pretty strong guy," Nolan said. "(I'm going to) just try to keep him off the glass."